The Met Office said strong winds and high tides could again cause problems in coastal areas on Tuesday with the possibility of rain. Most of the country will have rain on Wednesday with up to 1.5 inches (40mm) on higher ground.

Thursday will be drier, with a mixture of sunshine and showers, but there will be more heavy rain on Friday.

The Environment Agency has two Severe Flood Warnings still in place on the tidal River Severn, meaning there is a “danger to life”, with 57 “amber” Flood Warnings and 178 “yellow” Flood Alerts.

Mr Paterson insisted he had faith in Lord Smith and the work of his agency, but added: “We can always do better.”

"I do have great confidence in what the Environment Agency has delivered, led by the chairman, led by the chief executive, protecting 1.1 million properties," he told MPs.

Maria Eagle, the shadow environment secretary, said the Government’s response had been slow and incoherent.

She claimed Mr Paterson had received a “specific threat of very serious flooding” in the Somerset Levels a year ago because desilting work had come to a halt.

"The emergency services and Environment Agency staff deserve our thanks for efforts on the ground in difficult circumstances. Yet despite these efforts, it's clear that the residents in Somerset have been badly let down. When the water first rose, it took far too long to provide the pumps, sandbags and other assistance that residents needed.

"We've seen meeting after meeting of Cobra yet little coherence in the Government's strategy for dealing with this crisis.”